Walmart Statement on Oklahoma Tornadoes

BENTONVILLE, Ark., May 21, 2013 -- Our hearts go out to all those impacted by the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma. We send our deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones, and we are working on several ways to support the community.

In the aftermath of any disaster, we understand that helping people and communities meet their basic needs is the first step toward restoring normalcy. With several residents and businesses affected by these devastating storms, we want to ensure our community has access to the things they need to recover.

Associate Impact:

While we feel very fortunate that none of our associates or customers were injured inside our two stores in Moore, we continue working very hard to make contact with all of our associates who live and work in the area to make sure they and their families are OK. Our primary focus right now is meeting the immediate needs of our associates, some of who have lost everything.

Meanwhile, we have associates from Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Texas who are coming into the affected areas to help staff our stores so their fellow associates can be with their families.

We are also sending crisis counselors to the area to help our associates deal with their overwhelming emotional needs right now.

Community:

Walmart is committed to being a community partner in recovery efforts. We are pledging $1 million in cash and in-kind donations to help ensure the essential needs of residents are being met. We’re working to direct truckloads of water, food and other basic items to the area to help the community during this difficult time.

We’ll continue to work closely with the Salvation Army, Red Cross and other agencies to monitor further ways to help. For those interested in making donations, please connect with those agencies.

Operations:

All Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations with the exception of the Neighborhood Market in Moore are open. We’re working as quickly as possible to restore operations there. We are temporarily waiving membership requirements at area Sam’s Club locations.

Our Emergency Operations Center in Bentonville is activated to support our stores and clubs in the area.

Sam’s Club:

Five Sam’s Club locations in central Oklahoma are temporarily waiving membership requirements to support residents and communities affected by yesterday’s tornadoes. The clubs are also establishing free power stations so members of the community without power can recharge their mobile devices, laptop computers, and other electronic devices. These clubs include:

Norman – 3400 West Main Street

Oklahoma City – 5510 SW 5th Street

Oklahoma City – 9000 NW Passage

Midwest City – 6521 SE 29th Street

Edmond/Oklahoma City – 1900 Memorial Road

The free power stations are especially useful for those without power at a time when many depend on their wireless phones, devices, and computers to communicate. All club locations are equipped with free Wi-Fi capabilities.

We want to open our doors to whomever we can assist, and that includes those who simply need a place to sit down and recharge their mobile devices. In the aftermath of a storm like this, people need to be able to communicate with loved ones.